A young man who wants to open a hookah lounge in Plainfield got a lot of questions Thursday from Planning Board members who are more up on transit-oriented development than “hydro herbal molasses.”Board Chairman Ken Robertson allotted him five minutes, and as a half-dozen young supporters looked on in City Hall Library, Luis Cubi explained that hookah use is part of a “new generation and a new culture” that is widespread, but devotees from Plainfield must travel to Edison, Elizabeth or Paterson to indulge.
Cubi said he and his friends have “nowhere to go to have fun” and feel it is only right that Plainfield should have its own hookah lounge.
He took pains to say that his proposed lounge would not use tobacco in water pipes, but would use fruit-flavored herbal essences that contain no tar, nicotine or tobacco.
Guests 18 and older would pay a fee, which Cubi said would be “$15 for guys, $10 for girls,” and could bring their own beer, Red Bull, soda or water. The lounge would feature free Wi-Fi, music and entertainment.
But board members cited health issues and concerns for underage drinking, along with questions on how towns with such lounges regulate them and what was in the substance being smoked.
Board member Ron Scott-Bey related the concept to what he called “bourbon and cigar clubs” in Kentucky, where patrons bring their own bourbon and buy cigars, and just socialize.
Robertson noted the legal drinking age here is 21 and questioned the BYOB policy proposed.
Board member Sidney Jackson asked whether state health authorities would have to intervene if something is inhaled, even if it is herbal.
Cubi presented background information on the product to be used in the water pipes and also gave the board a petition with 100 signatures in support of a hookah lounge here.
The board did not move the matter to an agenda for an upcoming meeting, but Robertson asked Cubi to work with Planning Director Bill Nierstedt on it. Nierstedt said he had already obtained ordinances on hookah lounges from other municipalities.
Hookah culture is well-represented online, with the product Cubi advocated for sale on Amazon.com and numerous blogs and web sites full of information. Is there a hookah lounge in Plainfield’s future? We’ll see.
--Bernice Paglia
Whatever the appeal of a hookah lounge may be, and whatever regulations apply that govern age, BYOB, licensing, etc., this hardly seems like an issue to occupy the planning board. A greater concern should be the discriminatory pricing suggested by Mr. Cubi.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, the board last night showed a sense of urgency to stick to the big issues such as transit-oriented development and zoning, especially in the face of reduced staff in City Hall, but they must also give a hearing, however brief, to potential applicants.
ReplyDeleteWould love someone to open a Jazz club.
ReplyDelete$15 for men, $10 for women?? Illegal, and a lawsuit!
ReplyDeleteThe new generation of the City of Plainfield want this establish. It's only fair to acknowledge the diversity in Plainfield and that a hookah lounge is a new style of entertaiment. Middlesex, New Brunswick, Elzabeth and Paterson acknowledged the diversity in there town/city but most importantly took into consideration the voices of the people that in the end, Hookah Lounges were establish. Why not in Plainfield? Our closest friends and neighbors from North Plainfield, South Plainfield, Scoth Plains, Dunellen and Watchung have to travel miles away in order to find such style of entrainment. It's not fair we have to travel miles and miles in order to enjoy our self just because our hometown can't provide such services. A hookah lounge is a fantastic idea and not only will it benefit the people of Plainfield but to our closest friends. Pleaseee Support the Ciity of Plainfiled 1st Hookah Lounge.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for new business coming to Plainfield, however, the BYOB policy for an establishment whose target demographics is probably 18 to 20-somethings will most likely be more of a negative than a positive. I predict that herbal substances other than those intended for the hookah will be used readily.
ReplyDeleteI say let's continue to let the "hookah" lounge seekers to travel outside of
ReplyDeletePlainfield....I can't see where this sort of establishment will do anything to enhance Plainfield's image....Sorry Mr. Cubi, but Edison isn't all that far.
@ anonymous
ReplyDeleteThe price could be modified into a solid one. Plus i'm not being discriminatory with the fee. $15 for guys and $10 for girls are the prices of some of the hookah lounges i've traveled to. I use that price as a references but the price could defiantly be change into a solid one.
However, i'm not doing this for the money, i'm doing this for the new generation and culture that currently reside in the City of Plainfield. Why should we leave our home town in order to find some sort of entertainment that is relevant to what we do. In addition most of the hookah lounge i visited the majority of the people there are from Plainfield, North Plainfield and South Plainfield and the question is why? Because, there's no place for Us"NEW GENERATION" could go and have fun.
Furthermore, i don't have a problem traveling to other towns to have fun but why should I? Plainfield is a diverse CITY with different cultures and We as The New Generation feel is only fair and right to have a hookah lounge establish in the Queen City.
Thus, regarding the BYOB part, 21+ is the age requirement for BYOB. However the patrons that are under 21 but older than 18 will have to wear a wrist ban and have both hands mark with "X" plus there will always be security staff on set watching everyone.. All the hookah lounges have this same process. However, i don't want to break the BYOB tradition in a hookah lounge but, i will if the City requested. Overall, a Hookah Lounge is a new style of entertainment but not only does it target new generation but the old one as well.
The hookah bar in Jersey City that I have gone to ( only because they have to allow cig smoking as well ) isn't that bad. BUT, it's NOT BYOB, it has a liquor license to watch out for so therefore it's a well run establishment. Plainfield can't enforce most of the rules on the books as it is...there is no way that enforcement can be expected for underage drinking in a BYOB environment.
ReplyDeleteI guess it was us, the OLD generation, who smoked other things in the hookah pipes! More seriously, although I wouldn't be a client, I do know it's an in thing with the under 30 crowd. The BYOB might be more of a stumbling block than the hookah smoking. It would be very obvious if someone were to smoke anything other than the allowed substances in them.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Entertainment is - in my opinion-being described as a Right...almost as if the city Owes it to its New Generation residents. The same argument could be used to argue for a Club in every township... Why should young people have to travel to the next town for enterntainment? you don't Have to. It's a Choice. Question: Who would be opening it? Is it the person proposing it? Do they have the financial backing for it? Or is it a petition for the city to create a plan, secure funding, and keep it open as a viable business? I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteWhat's in it fir the city? Is the New Generation going to finance it?
I'm pretty sure the person that propose the hookah lounge concept haves the financial part cover. If not, why would've he wasted his time. Plus the residents of Plainfield will indeed benefit and the residents from the surrounding municipalities as well. Like North Plainfield, South Plainfield, Scotch Plains and Dunellen. Meaning more people will come to Plainfield and see what else the city haves to offer them instead of going somewhere else. However, restaurants especially those open late will benefit. People have to eat after having fun XD. But the hookah lounge concept was develop because the lack of entertainment sites for newer generations. This is what Plainfield residents want.
ReplyDeleteA particularly bad idea, in so many ways. I can see it all now. Plainfield can't even keep a chicken restaurant open without a gunfight. Can you imagine the chaos of a place like this?
ReplyDeletePlease, have some common sense.
Unfortunately the City of Plainfield is having problems dealing with the violence but although i can't predict the future. All i could assure is that my goal if the lounge is establish is to provided a safe and secure environment. Other business are concern about the violence in Plainfield and try there best to maintain a safe environment, i will do the same.
ReplyDeleteHOOKAH LOUNGE
ReplyDeleteI like the concept we must be open to new and unique forms of entertainment.
this is a feanchise I would place my money in because the price of admission would keep the riff raff out.
I often wondered what it would be like for Plainfield to be an attraction instead of an avoidance
We say that we want revenue based businesses to rerurn to this Great City,well here is a proven entity
Now let us embrace it and move on